OBITS: Post-Star 18 Aug 2005; Glen Falls, Warren co., New York text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen for The USGenWeb Archives Project *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Source: Post-Star http://www.post-star.com Beames, Carol Ann South Glens Falls -- Carol Ann Beames, 61, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005, at Mary's Haven in Saratoga following a long illness. Born on May 11, 1944, in Glens Falls, she was the daughter of the late Alfred J. and Betty Jane (Bailey) DelSignore. Carol Ann graduated from St. Mary's Academy in Glens Falls. She enjoyed traveling, crocheting and her animals. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. Besides her father, her daughter, Susan Ann Beames, predeceased her. Survivors include her children, Stephanie Rathbun of Gansevoort, Lisa Knizek and her husband, William, of Oklahoma and Renee Rathbun of South Glens Falls; her mother, Betty (Bailey) DelSignore of Glens Falls; her brothers and sisters, Jeanne Trello and her husband, Anthony, of Hudson Falls, Alfred DelSignore Jr. and his wife, Barbara, of Queensbury, Patricia Ross of Hudson Falls, Linda Barlow of Glens Falls, Richard DelSignore and his wife, Karen, of Tonawanda, N.Y., Gloria DelSignore of Glens Falls, Mark DelSignore of Glens Falls and Maria DelSignore of Glens Falls; her grandchildren, Tonya, Marissa, Alyssa, Roger Jr., Natasha, Justin, William Jr., Wyatt, MacKenzie, Ashley, Kailey Brittany and Taylor; her great- grandson, Zachary; and several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles. A funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m., on Friday, Aug. 19, 2005, at Regan & Denny Funeral Home, 94 Saratoga Ave., South Glens Falls. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in South Glens Falls. Family and friends are invited and may call from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005, at the funeral home. Those who wish may send a remembrance in her name to The Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Published in the Post-Star on 8/18/2005. Bergmeier, Zachary Alec "Berg" SOUTH GLENS FALLS -- Zachary Alec "Berg" Bergmeier, 22, of South Glens Falls, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005, at his home. Born on June 1, 1983, in Rutland, Vt., he was the son of Joseph C. Bergmeier and the late Mary (Glennon) Bergmeier. Berg graduated from South Glens Falls High School in 2001 and attended Adirondack Community College. In January of 2001, he joined the Army National Guard out of the Glens Falls Armory. Berg served his country with Charlie Company 2/108th in Samarra, Iraq, from February 2004 to December 2004. He had a great love of horses and worked at the Lake George Carriage Company as a driver for five years. Berg enjoyed being outdoors and spent many hours bicycle riding, kayaking, and snowshoeing. He also loved listening to music. In addition to his mother, he was predeceased by his close Charlie Company friend, Nathan Brown. Survivors include his father and stepmother, Joseph C. Bergmeier and his wife, Carol, of South Glens Falls; his brother, Jacob A. Bergmeier and his girlfriend, Diana Mejias, of Brewster, N.Y.; his sister, Creszenz M. Bergmeier of South Glens Falls; his paternal grandparents, Francis and Jane Bergmeier of South Glens Falls; his maternal grandparents, Dr. John and Anita Glennon, of Granville; his maternal grandfather, Anthony Cottone of South Glens Falls; his brothers of Charlie Company 2/108th; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Friends may call on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main St. in Hudson Falls. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. on Monday at St. Michael the Archangel Church in South Glens Falls, with the Rev. Robert Nugent, pastor, officiating. The Rite of Committal will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Stillwater, with full military honors. Following the cemetery service, everyone is welcome to gather with Berg's family and brothers from Charlie Company at the South Glens Falls American Legion Post No. 553, 29 First St. in South Glens Falls. In lieu of flowers, his family suggests that donations be made to The Charlie Company Memorial Fund, C/O Hudson River Credit Union, 160 Broad St., Glens Falls, NY 12801. Published in the Post-Star on 8/18/2005. Bush, Elsie G. Ticonderoga -- Elsie G. Bush, 87, of 64 St. Clair St., died peacefully on Aug. 16, 2005, at the Fletcher Allen Health Care Center of Burlington, Vt., with her loving son, Richard, at her side. Born in Ticonderoga, Nov. 25, 1917, she was the daughter of the late Archibald A. and Corena P. "Queenie" (Garrow) Gallant. Elsie was valedictorian of the Ticonderoga High School Class of 1935, and was a graduate of the College of New Rochelle. During World War II, she worked at G.E. Broadcasting during the early years of television. Later, she spent many years as librarian at St. Paul's School in Garden City, N.Y. She retired in the early 1970s after teaching several years at St. Mary's School in Ticonderoga. Elsie was predeceased by her husband, Walter J. "Tuffy" Bush. Survivors include her son, Richard J. Bush and his wife, Mary, of Clifton Park; two grandchildren, Andrea Marie Biski and her husband, Chad, of Saratoga Springs, and Richard J. Bush Jr. and his wife, Dana, of Old Saybrook, Conn.; and a great-grandson, Ryan H. Bush. Relatives and friends may call Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga. A funeral service will take place Friday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Mr. Elliott A. Shaw of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Ticonderoga will officiate. The Rite of Committal will follow at the family plot of St. Mary's Parish Cemetery of Ticonderoga. Published in the Post-Star on 8/18/2005. Gernat, Mary Granville -- Mary Gernat passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005, at her home. Mary was born on May 1, 1916, in Granville, the daughter of George and Julia (Semansik) Gernat. Mary worked as a nurse at Ellis Hospital until her retirement. Mary enjoyed her family and friends, traveling, bingo and flower gardening. Mary was a member of St.'s Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church. Survivors are her three sisters: Elsie Gernat of Granville, Julia McCarthy of Port Orange, Fla., and Katherine Gernat of Daytona Beach, Fla. Also several nieces and nephews. Her funeral will be private at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in St.'s Peter and Paul Cemetery in Middle Granville. Arrangements are under the direction of Robert M. King Funeral Home, 23 Church St., Granville. Published in the Post-Star on 8/18/2005. Kiley, Roger Augustin Saratoga Springs -- Roger Augustin Kiley died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005, at age 58, in Hackensack, N.J., surrounded by the family he loved so much. He succumbed to pneumonia, a complication of the mylodisplasia he had been courageously fighting without complaint since 1994. He lived for his family, for his three sons and his beloved wife, Susan. Roger's open-hearted, non-judgmental love of people was the core value that shaped every aspect of his professional, community, and personal life: his devotion to his kids, his across the fence kind of neighborliness, his varied community service, and his love of Notre Dame and his native Saratoga Springs. Born on July 18, 1947, Roger was a third-generation Saratogian. Son of the town doctor, Joseph Kiley, and grandson of longtime Commissioner of Finance, Mary Mulqueen, Roger went on to make his own mark on the city in which he so proudly raised his children. A scholar-athlete, Roger graduated as salutatorian from St. Peter's Academy in 1965, while earning nine varsity letters, and serving as captain of championship baseball and basketball teams. He earned several scholarships to attend college at the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1969, and went on to Columbia Law School. Service in Korea with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War interrupted his law studies, but he returned to Columbia and completed his degree in 1974. Roger returned home to Saratoga Springs to join in the legal practice of Harry Snyder, and became a founding partner in the firm of Snyder, Kiley, and Toohey, where he specialized in commercial transactions and banking law. His keen legal mind led his partners and other lawyers to turn to him for advice on thorny problems. He served as assistant city attorney and on the Saratoga Springs Planning Board. He had been active in the Democratic party, as a committeeman and, for one year, as president of the Democratic committee. He volunteered for many activities at St. Peter's Church. Roger was strongly committed to helping people in need. Before the birth of his own sons, he had been a Big Brother to other young boys for many years, and was particularly proud to have been "best man" for one of his Little Brothers. Roger combined his legal expertise and his commitment to service in his longtime work for Legal Aid, doing much pro bono work himself and serving actively in running the Northeast Division of the New York Legal Aid Society. He was president of this organization from 1982-1984, received its Distinguished Service Award in 1987, and was also honored with the New York State Bar Association President's Pro Bono Service Award. In 2002, Saratoga Central Catholic elected him to its Hall of Fame, honoring him with the Rev. Dominic Ingemie Alumni Award for Christian Leadership. Roger's passion for Notre Dame was legendary. He believed in the school, and the humane and ethical values for which it stood. He loved the sports, the football in particular, and had begun to take his sons on his annual pilgrimage to one of the big games. After serious health problems led to his early retirement from law in June 2000, Roger devoted himself entirely to his kids, and his family. He was a wonderful husband, a devoted father, and the best fan his athletic sons could have wished for. Roger's illness had only clarified his sense of what was important in life. He spent some of his retirement writing a private memoir for his family, a document that he hoped might help his young sons someday to understand what he had experienced, and learned, during his life. He was at work on revising this memoir during the last week of his life. His positive, uncomplaining attitude was an inspiration to all around him, and he often remarked that he was just "happy to be here" and that "it's all a bonus now." Roger is survived by his wife, Susan J. Kiley, his three sons, Gregory, Mark, and Andrew; his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ellen and Bill Carroll, MD of Greenwich, N.Y. He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Kathryn Kiley of Saratoga Springs, and two brothers, Michael and Joseph. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 19, 2005, in the Church of St. Peter, 241 Broadway. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery on West Avenue. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today, Thursday, at William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway (584-5373 or burkefuneralhome.com). Memorial contributions may be made to the Roger Kiley Memorial Fund at Saratoga Hospital, 211 Church St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Published in the Post-Star on 8/18/2005. LeClaire Sr., James F. PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- James F. LeClaire Sr., 67, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005, at Fawcett Memorial Hospital. He was born on Oct. 22, 1937, in Glens Falls, to Francis and Rose LeClaire. James graduated from Whitehall High School in Whitehall, and attended Westchester College of Culinary Arts until he entered the United States Navy. He was a chef at the Arlington Hotel in Whitehall and at Mt. Snow Ski Lodge in Vermont. James then worked for New York State Corrections until retirement. In 1997, he moved to Port Charlotte, Fla. James will be greatly missed by his wife of 23 years, Nancy; daughters, Debra Currier of Whitehall, Sharon Lane of Pensacola, Fla., and Susan Carver of Brunswick, Ga.; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, James Jr. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 19, 2005, at the First Methodist Church, in Whitehall, with the Rev. Ashley Meade officiating. To express condolences to the family, please visit www.LTaylorfuneral.com and sign the guest book. Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Cremation Center, Port Charlotte Chapel. Published in the Post-Star on 8/18/2005. Mattison, Joan F. FORT ANN -- Joan F. Mattison, 65, of state Route 149, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005, at Glens Falls Hospital, after a long illness. Joan was born on June 4, 1940, in Freeport, N.Y., the daughter of Max Degener of Hadlock Pond and the late Sadie (Karniewski) Degener. Joan married Curtis Mattison on Aug. 29, 1959, at the West Fort Ann United Methodist Church. After her marriage, Joan was a homemaker and worked on the family dairy farm, until she began employment in the deli department at the Hannaford Queensbury store. She was a member of the West Fort Ann United Methodist Church. Joan loved watching birds, tending to her vegetable and flower garden and cooking for her family. Her grandchildren were the apple of her eye. Joan was the core of her family and will be deeply missed. Survivors include her loving husband of 46 years, Curtis Mattison of Fort Ann; her father, Max Degener of Hadlock Pond; her three children, Christine Bush and her husband, Leonard, of Hartford, Brian Mattison of Fort Ann and Kenneth Mattison and his wife, Michelle, of Fort Ann; her four grandchildren, Joshua Bush of Fort Ann and Jeffrey Bush of Hartford, Danielle Mattison of Eureka, Calif., and Rebecca Mattison of Fort Ann; her two brothers, Max Degener Jr. and his wife, Maureen, of Florida and Edward Degener and his wife, Joan, of Hadlock Pond; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends may call this evening, Aug. 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home, 18 George St., Fort Ann. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Esther Lee, pastor of the Hartford United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at the West Fort Ann Cemetery in the town of Fort Ann. The family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Charles R. Wood Cancer Center, Pruyn Pavilion at Glens Falls Hospital, 102 Park St., Glens Falls, NY 12801. Published in the Post-Star on 8/18/2005.